About tonight: What to watch for when Suns meet Jazz

The Spurs’ first-round playoff opponent could be determined after tonight’s key game between Phoenix and Utah in Salt Lake City.

The Jazz can wrap up the playoff spot by beating the Suns tonight. And they are obviously favored by playing on their home court.

But Phoenix has had remarkable recent success against the Jazz. The Suns have won their last seven games against the Jazz, including four straight games in Salt Lake City.

The Suns won most recently at the Energy Solutions Arena on April 4, notching a 107-105 victory on two Steve Nash foul shots with 14 seconds left. The victory held when Paul Millsap missed a rebound attempt at the buzzer.

Since then, the Jazz have won four straight home games and improved to 23-8 at EnergySolutions Arena this season.

The Jazz have struggled containing Nash and the Suns’ pick-and-roll heavy offense. They must do a better job at containing him tonight.

“We got to go into Utah – tough environment, tough atmosphere, tough team – and we got to win,” Phoenix guard Shannon Brown told reporters after the Suns’ home loss to Denver on Saturday. “That’s basically what it comes down to.”

Phoenix could be without forward-center Channing Frye, who sustained a subluxed right shoulder in the loss to Denver. Frye led the Suns with 26 points and nine rebounds in a 120-111 home win over Utah on March 14.

But the Suns could have veteran Grant Hill available after he missed the last four games with right knee inflammation.

And if Phoenix wins, the two teams would be tied but the Suns would have the tiebreaker because of their earlier head-to-head victories. Their magic number would be one and they would then either have to beat the Spurs on Wednesday or hope that Portland wins at Utah on Thursday.

If the Suns win tonight, it also could make for an interesting situtation Wednesday night.

Remember how Millsap was insulted that the Spurs didn’t play their complete roster during a 91-84 loss at Utah on April 9 when Gregg Popovich chose to rest Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili? Millsap even called the ploy “a slap in the face” to the Jazz.

Imagine how he’s going to feel if Spurs coach Popovich again chooses to rest some of his starters in what essentially is a meaningless game for the Spurs against Phoenix?